A businessman watched in horror as a man died after a one-tonne concrete slab fell on him in a tragic accident.

Keith Greatrix had been fitting a shed with concrete panels at Boiling Wells Farm in South Rauceby in Sleaford when the industrial accident took place in front of a man who then made frantic attempts to help him.

He was pronounced dead at the scene after paramedics tried to resuscitate him on August 25 last year.

Business director David Bellamy, who was working with him at the time, saw the one tonne panel wobble and land on him.

He said: “There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about the accident. I continue to have nightmares."

The inquest into the death of the 64-year-old opened today, Monday, August 7 and is due to continue until Wednesday, August 9.

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The jury inquest heard that farmer David Bellamy, who is director of Greylees Limited and owns Boiling Wells Farm, had asked the self-employed construction worker to carry out building work on one of his barns.

Mr Bellamy had known Mr Greatrix for around 20 years and knew he had done similar work elsewhere.

He was with Mr Greatrix at the time of the accident and was controlling the Merlo telehandler which was positioning the concrete panels.

Keith Greatrix at RAF College Cranwell

The hearing was told he immediately used the forklift to remove the slab from Mr Greatrix but could see significant injuries.

He then alerted other people on the farmer for assistance.

A post-mortem examination carried out by Dr Hulman at Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham on August 30, 2016, found a deep “gash” over Mr Greatrix’s forehead at approximately 5cm in length.

The statement, which was read out during the inquest by coroner Stuart Fisher, stated: “The ribs on the left side of his chest were fractured and there was a fractured spine. The pelvis was shattered.”

He stated the death was caused by multiple injuries.

A patient report form by East Midlands Ambulance Service was also read to the jury.

It stated that they received a call at 1.57pm. The ambulance was mobile by 2.04pm and on the scene by 2.17pm.

The ambulance then left at 3.30pm after resuscitation was terminated at 2.52pm.